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Parks at Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, KY · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management
43 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
44
Optimistic
43
Base Case
40
Pessimistic
Earnings $32,267/yr (-4% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (34% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (508,800 openings/yr)
ROI 10.2x earnings multiple (4.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #40 of 45 Parks programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Parks graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $464K $466K $440K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.2x 10.2x 9.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.3x 4.3x 4.1x
Probability of Field Employment 42% 40% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 44 43 40

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$45,744
Out-of-state: $108,000 (4.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$43,664
5% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,867
9.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$40,705
26% growth from Year 1

About Western Kentucky University

A 97% acceptance rate means Western Kentucky University is accessible to most applicants, serving 12,267 students in Bowling Green, KY.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Kentucky University →

Top Career Paths

Facilities managers $104,690/yr
General and operations managers $102,950/yr
Entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling $77,180/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 45 schools offering Parks →

Parks at Other Schools

Southern Connecticut State University ($46,274) University of Florida ($41,046) Illinois State University ($39,104) Southwestern Oklahoma State University ($38,506) North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($38,116) South Dakota State University ($38,076) Kean University ($37,884) University of North Texas ($36,857)

Other Majors at Western Kentucky University

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($74,205) Mechanical Engineering ($70,722) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($68,294) Management Information Systems and Services ($64,252) Construction Engineering Technologies ($63,013) Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians ($60,675) Civil Engineering ($60,086) Economics ($53,857)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Parks trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 43/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Parks at Western Kentucky University?
At 43/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Parks programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →